When you have to decide what type of fire extinguisher to buy, given that there are different types, it is necessary to consider the kind of fire that can be hypothesized in the areas to be protected. Commonly, the choice falls on Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers, highly appreciated for their very high extinguishing power and for the absolutely not excessive cost: here is what they contain and how they work.
Powder Fire Extinguishers: Composition and Operation
The first question to answer is this: what do powder extinguishers contain? Consisting of a sheet steel casing, pressurized with inert gas or with dehumidified air at about 15 bar, they contain powders consisting mainly of saline compounds, such as potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate (for fire class B and C) and ammonium sulfate and monoammonium phosphate (for class A, B and C fires). The type of actions that dust does on fire are suffocation, cooling, and chemical inhibition.
Polyvalent powders (powders A, B, C) are the extinguishing agent most used for their universality of use and their high efficacy. For this reason, they can be used on live electrical equipment and systems, materials class A, and flammable liquids.
What to Look for Before Using Powder Fire Extinguisher
Once the composition of the powder extinguisher has been established, it is advisable to check a series of variables before using it:
- first of all, it is necessary to check that the extinguishing agent contained is compatible and suitable for the fire class to be attacked;
- secondly, the actual charge pressure through the “if present” pressure gauge;
- then proceed by checking the absence of any tampering on the hose, lance, safety seal;
- Finally, the extinguisher is shaken a couple of times to eliminate, if present, any principles of compaction of the powder.
After completing these important operations, the powder extinguisher can be used on electrical panels up to 1000 V; Class A materials, such as paper, wood, plastics, and fabrics; flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, and alcohol; class D materials such as aluminum, sodium, and potassium, only with special powders. Furthermore, another aspect to consider is that this type of fire extinguisher is ideal for extinguishing even more outbreaks due to its constructional peculiarity.
Powder Fire Extinguishers: Prices
The prices of the powder extinguisher vary according to the size of the chosen product: for example, the 6 kg extinguisher can be used comfortably to protect shops, offices, construction sites, vehicles, and in general, all those companies subject to fire risk. Versatile and safe, it is perfect for medium and high fire risk environments and allows you to extinguish mixed fires that also affect liquids, flammable gases, and electrical components. Look for stores selling them at affordable prices.